Instructions for deduction of tax at source from commission, brokerage, etc. - Income Tax - 619/1991

Instructions for deduction of tax at source from commission, brokerage, etc. Circular No. 619 Dated 4/12/1991 1. The Finance (No. 2) Act, 1991 has introduced a new section 194H, into the Income-tax Act, 1961, which provides that any person, not being an individual or a Hindu undivided family, who is responsible for paying, on or after the 1st day of October, 1991, to a resident, any income by way of commission (not being insurance commission referred to in section 194D) or brokerage, shall, at the time of credit of such income to the account of the payee or at the time of payment of such income in cash or by the issue of a cheque or draft or by any other mode, whichever is earlier, deduct income-tax thereon at the rate of ten per cent. 2. For the purposes of this section, commission or brokerage includes any payment received or receivable, directly or indirectly, by a person acting on behalf of another person for services rendered (not being professional services) or for any services in the course of buying or selling of goods or in relation to any transaction relating to any asset, valuable article or thing. 3. It may also be stated that credit of any income to any account whether called "Suspense account" or by any other name shall be deemed to be credit of such income to the account of the payee and the provisions of section 194H shall apply accordingly. 4. The tax so deducted at the rate of ten per cent is required to be increased by surcharge at the rate of twelve per cent where the payee is a resident person (other than a company) and at the rate of fifteen per cent where the payee is a domestic company. 5. No deduction is, however, required to be made in the following cases : ( i ) Where the aggregate amount of commission income credited or paid or likely to be credited or paid by a payer to a payee during a financial year does not exceed two thousand five hundred rupees. ( ii ) Where the payment is made by an individual or a Hindu undivided family. ( iii ) In cases of such persons or class or classes of persons (whether payer or payee) as the Central Government may, having regard to the extent of inconvenience caused or likely to be caused to them, and being satisfied that it would not be prejudicial to the interests of revenue, by Notification in the Official Gazette, specify, in this behalf. ( iv ) Where payment of commission income is made for "professional services". For this purpose, professional services mean services rendered by a person in the course of carrying on legal, medical, engineering or architectural profession or the profession of accountancy to technical consultancy or interior decoration or such other profession as is notified by the Board for the purposes of section 44AA of the Income-tax Act. So far, only two professions, namely, of film artists and authorised representatives, have been notified. 6. A question may raise whether there would be deduction of tax at source under section 194H where commission or brokerage is retained by the consignee/agent and not remitted to the consignor/principal while remitting the sale consideration. It may be clarified that since the retention of commission by the consignee/agent amounts to constructive payment of the same to him by the consignor/principal, deduction of tax at source is required to be made from the amount of commission. Therefore, the consignor/principal will have to deposit the tax deductible on the amount of commission income to the credit of the Central Government, within the prescribed time, as explained in the succeeding paragraphs. 7. The responsibilities, obligations, etc., under the Income-tax Act of a person deducting income-tax at source are as follows : ( a ) According to the provisions of section 200, any person deducting tax at source under section 194H shall pay, within the prescribed time (as laid down in rule 30 of the Income-tax Rules, 1962), the tax so deducted to the credit of the Central Government. In the case of deduction by or on behalf of the Government, the sum has to be paid on the day of the deduction itself. In other cases, payment is normally to be made within one week from the last day of month in which the deduction is made. However, with the permission of the Assessing Officer, tax deducted at source can also be paid to the credit of the Central Government on quarterly basis. If a person fails to deduct tax at source, or, after deducting, fails to pay tax to the credit of the Central Government, he shall be liable to action under the provisions of section 201. Sub-section (1A) of section 201 lays down that such person shall be liable to pay simple interest at fifteen per cent per annum on the amount of such tax from the date on which the tax was deductible to the date on which it is actually paid. Further, section 271C lays down that if any person fails to deduct tax at source, he shall be liable to pay by way of penalty a sum equal to the amount of tax which he failed to deduct at source. In this regard, attention is also invited to the provisions of section 276B which lays down that if a person fails to pay to the credit of the Central Government the tax deducted at source by him, he shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than 3 months but which may extend to 7 years and with fine. ( b ) According to the provisions of section 203, every person responsible for deducting tax at source is required to furnish a certificate to the effect that tax has been deducted and to specify therein, the amount deducted and certain other particulars. This certificate has to be furnished in Form No. 16A (copy enclosed) within the prescribed period of one month and fourteen days to the person to whose account credit is given or to whom payment is made or cheque is issued. The certificate can be issued on the tax deductor's own stationery. If a person fails to furnish this certificate, he shall be liable to pay by way of penalty under section 272A, a sum which shall not be less than Rs. 100, but which may extend to Rs. 200 for each day during which the failure continues. ( c ) According to the provisions of section 203A, it is obligatory for all persons responsible for deducting tax at source to obtain and quote the Tax-deduction Account Number (TAN) in the various challans, TDS certificates, returns, etc. Detailed instructions in this regard are available in this Department's Circular No. 497, dated 9-10-1987 for reference and guidance. If a person fails to comply with the provisions of section 203A, he shall be liable to pay by way of penalty under section 272BB, a sum up to Rs. 5,000. These instructions are not exhaustive and are issued with a view to helping the persons responsible for making deduction of tax at source under section 194H. Where there is any doubt, a reference may be made to the relevant provisions of the Income-tax Act, 1961 and the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1991. In case any assistance is required, the Assessing Officer concerned or the local Public Relations Officer of the Income-tax Department may be approached. Form No. 16A [ See rule 31(1)( b )] Certificate of deduction of tax at source under section 203 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 [ For interest on securities, dividends, interest on time deposits referred to in clauses ( vii ) and ( viia ) of sub-section (3) of section 194A; insurance commission; payments in respect of deposits under National Savings Scheme; payments on account of repurchase of units by the Mutual Fund or Unit Trust of India; commission, remuneration or prize on sale of lottery tickets; commission or brokerage; income from units referred to in section 196B .]